April 6, 1861; The New York Herald
Preparations for War at the North and the South. The Confederate States Ready for Hostilities. Probable Surrender of Forts Sumter and Pickens in Case of Attack. INTENSE EXCITEMENT AT CHARLESTON. The Policy of the Federal Government Towards the South, &c., &c., &c. THE RIVAL CONFEDERACIES PREPARING FOR WAR.
WASHINGTON, April 5, 1861.
MEETING OF THE CABINET.
The first regular Cabinet meeting convened today at noon, and continued in session for three hours. Southern affairs exclusively occupied its attention. Lieutenant Gilman report of the condition of matters at Pensacola and Fort Pickens was the principal subject under consideration.
The failure of the government to obtain any information from Fort Pickens was the subject of great surprise. Fears were entertained that a conflict had ensued, in consequence of the landing of supplies, and that telegraphic communication had been cut off.
Up to a late hour there are no reports from Fort Pickens, and the government is exceedingly anxious to hear from there.
It was noticed this morning that an unusual number of official telegraphic despatches were sent over from the War and Navy Departments to the President.
ALARM OF THE WASHINGTONIANS.
The excitement that prevails here among all classes in consequence of the war prospect is indescribable. The radical republicans are in high glee at the display of administration vigor, and walk about with an air of defiance. The Washingtonians all look exceedingly sober.
POLICY OF THE ADMINISTRATION.
The country is on the brink of civil war. Lamentable though this consummation may be, its imminence can no longer be denied. The knot that has been tying since last November, and that the highest statesmanship of the nation failed to disentangle, will be cut by the sword.
A Western Congressman, who has satisfied himself as to the purposes of the administration by an interview with the President within the last twenty- four hours, remarked today that ‘Blood will be spilled in less than ten days.’ The unmistakeable symptoms of an impending strife render it but too probable that his evil prophesy will be verified. But although the inauguration of a fratricidal conflict is now evidently inevitable, it would be injustice to charge the doleful calamity to the federal administration. It does not mean to engage in any aggressive demonstrations. Its men of war are not put in fighting trim, and its troops are not collected in large bodies for a war subjugation. It simply means to discharge its constitutional duties. It intends to strengthen, protect and defend, in case of attack, all the Southern forts still in its possession, excepting Fort Sumter, which it is ready to abandon in order to avoid useless bloodshed. It will use all the resources at its command to collect the revenue. If the revolutionary powers of the South shall interfere with this discharge of duties which the laws of the land impose upon its federal ministers, the interference will be repelled, and then the conflict will come. But the administration will not strike the first blow. The shot that will open the bloody drama of civil strife will have to be fired on the side of the revolutionists, and not on that of the lawful protectors of the federal authority.
The doings of the administration since the beginning of this week were studiously sought to be kept in the dark, but not only its actual purport of the naval and army movements has been definitely ascertained, but something has also leaked out in regard to the Cabinet proceedings. It is known that Mr. Seward advocates an adherence to the former passive attitude, but that he found his colleagues unanimously advocating a vigorous response to the appeal of the commander of the naval forces in the bay of Pensacola for additional supplies of men and provisions, which demand, together with the representations of the necessity of some action in regard to the collection of the revenue, formed the immediate occasion for the consent for the present armament. Postmaster General Blair was foremost in urging the adoption of energetic measures.
THE WAR PRESSURE ON THE PRESIDENT.
Since an attack upon Forts Sumter and Pickens has become probable, the President has received a number of telegraphic exhortations from leading politicians in all parts of the country, urging him not to surrender anything, and offering to volunteer in undertaking reinforcements. An enterprising Yankee offered to supply Major Anderson with men and provisions for five thousand dollars on ten days’ notice. A prominent Bell man of Cincinnati telegraphed to a Western Congressman to tell the President not to budge an inch–that to yield anything was to yield everything, and that a million of Northern men would spring to arms should the Southern forts be attacked. The despatch was handed to the President this morning by a member of the Cabinet. These appeals are said to exercise a considerable stiffening influence.
The President is now said to be fully emancipated from the inert influences of the Secretary of State, and to lend his ear mostly to Blair and Chase. Frank P. Blair talked some backbone into Old Abe one day this week, after his outspoken, unsparing fashion. He told him plainly that peaceable secession, or separation, was an impossibility, and that the success of the republican administration depended on the fulfillment of the assurances held out in the inaugural. He is said to have done anything but minced words in his allusions to the views of the Premier upon the secession question.
REPORTS FROM MONTGOMERY.
Despatches received here today from Montgomery and Charleston indicate that the Confederate government is ready for any emergency, and fully and amply prepared at all points to defend themselves, whenever and wherever assailed. General Beauregard says he has no fear of their ability to repel all invasion.
THE PREPARATION FOR WAR.
The government is exerting all its power and energy in all its departments to carry out the policy decided upon towards the seceded States. That they are of the most determined and extraordinary character is clearly evident from the movements that are now in progress; but the impression is that they have waited too long. The Confederate government is in better condition today, for defence and active operations on land, than is the Washington government.
The fact that the administration intend to reinforce Fort Pickens has reached Pensacola ere this, and when the attempt is made it will be resisted to the death.
Several members of the Cabinet have expressed apprehensions that Fort Pickens would be immediately attacked, and that the squadron now collecting would appear in Pensacola bay too late to be of real service. It is expected to be upon the scene of action in about ten days.
Governor Curtin of Pennsylvania, besides being closeted with the President an hour, has had an interview today with Secretary Cameron and General Scott, and at eleven o’clock tonight had a private interview with one of General Scott confidential officers. What is up? There is no doubt that Pennsylvania will be put upon a war footing immediately.
Massachusetts has six thousand six hundred and seventy men, all equipped and ready to march at twelve hours notice. Among them are two flying artillery batteries, almost as expert in drill as the best regulars, and several dragoon and cavalry corps, not surpassed in efficiency by any in the volunteer militia in the United States. The infantry corps are well drilled.
New York State is pledged to furnish ten thousand men at forty-eight hours’ notice, and other States in proportion. Illinois and other Western States are begging to be called into the field. We have lively times before us.
STEAMER PAWNEE ORDERED TO SEA.
Extraordinary efforts have been making all day at the Navy Yard here to put the steamer Pawnee in condition to leave here tomorrow morning, under sealed orders.
AN ENVOY FROM FORT SUMTER.
Lieutenant Talbot, with despatches from Fort Sumter, is expected to arrive here in the morning. The opinion is that he comes to inform the government that his supplies are cut off, that he must evacuate the fort from necessity, and to learn at what post he shall report with his command. It is undoubtedly true that the secessionists are anxious to get Major Anderson out of Fort Sumter, for the purpose of despatching a portion of the troops now at Charleston to Pensacola.
REPORTS FROM FORT PICKENS.
Lieut. Gilman, after testifying today before the Court of Inquiry in the case of Commodore Armstrong, who surrendered the Pensacola Navy Yard, had an interview with the Secretary of War and Gen. Scott, and left this afternoon for Pensacola.
It is believed in high administration circles that the Brooklyn has ere this landed supplies at the fort, and some interpret the silence of the telegraph wires as evidence of an attack from the secession forces. This news is hourly expected.
Capt. Slemmer has kept the government here advised of his condition, and frequently told them, within the last month, that he could not hold out much longer without men and supplies. Yet the administration did nothing. It is believed here, from information just received, that should an attempt now be made to reinforce Capt. Slemmer, he will consider it his duty, under existing circumstances, to haul down his flag and surrender at once, being satisfied that it would be useless to attempt to resist the overwhelming forces surrounding him on all sides. He never will consent now, it is said, to sacrifice his little band, but will throw the entire responsibility on the administration. They have been aware of his critical condition for more than a month, and of the extraordinary efforts in progress by the Confederate government to surround the fort with fortifications and batteries of the largest description. It would be a most wanton sacrifice of human life for him now to attempt to resist them. Whenever an attack is made it will certainly be taken.
PROBABLE SURRENDER OF FORT SUMTER.
The same state of things exists in regard to Fort Sumter. The officers in command of these two forts will, it is believed here by military men, surrender whenever an attack is made. By this course they will avoid the shedding of blood at these points at least.
OPINION OF JOHN MINOR BOTTS.
There is a large delegation of Virginians here, headed by John Minor Botts. They have come for the purpose of ascertaining something respecting the movements now in progress by the administration towards the Confederate States. Botts is of opinion, from the best information he can obtain, that the administration does not intend war. He says that, even in the event of hostilities, Virginia will still refuse to join the Southern confederacy.
Mr. Botts also says that the secession feeling is steadily gaining ground, and that unless the demands of the Old Dominion upon the North be complied with, she will follow, sooner or later, in the wake of the cotton States. He called on the President, and advised him to withdraw Major Anderson from Fort Sumter, and not to disturb the present status of the other Southern forts. His counsels probably come too late.
THE PRESIDENT’S LEVEE POSTPONED.
The regular levee this evening was not held, on account of the pressure of public business.
RECRUITING FOR THE SOUTHERN ARMY.
An officer of artillery in the South Carolina forces arrived here yesterday, and is engaged in recruiting soldiers to fight against their country. The men thus enlisted are not sent beyond Richmond, Va., where a strong force now exists, which is daily being strengthened from among the floating adventurers and filibusters of Northern cities.
CALL FOR AN EXTRA SESSION OF CONGRESS.
There will be an extraordinary session of Congress in about sixty days.